PAT ON THE BACK

A salute to those who have earned the good opinion of the world of sport, if not yet its tallest headlines

BEVERLY BAKER FLEITZ
Ambidextrous Bev Fleitz hits forehands from both sides and owns a powerful serve. Pretty Bev, who came back to win the U.S. hard court title after an ankle injury knocked her out of the nationals, is in top form again for the 1955 season.

CHIHARU (Chick) IGAYA
Ever since he came to the U.S. from Japan two years ago, Chick Igaya has monopolized the national slalom championship. This soft-spoken 23-year-old has been called the world's greatest in his specialty. Chick majors in geography at Dartmouth.

ERNESTINE (Ernie) Russell
In 1954 as in 1953, pert gymnast Ernie Russell of Windsor is Canada's amateur woman athlete of the year. Now 16, Ernie is already looking forward to the 1956 Olympics.

THREE PHOTOS